Fr Lombardi SJ on Rolling Stone article

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2014-01-30 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) The lengthy cover piece dedicated to Pope Francis in the February 13 edition of the popular Rolling Stone magazine has made its way around the world. The Director of the Press Office of the Holy See, Fr. Federico Lombardi SJ, praises the article’s appearance, saying, “[The piece] is a sign of the attention that the novelties of Pope Francis attract from many different quarters.”

Fr Lombardi SJ goes on to say, “Unfortunately, the article disqualifies itself, falling into the usual mistake of a superficial journalism, which, in order to shed light on the positive aspects of Pope Francis, thinks it needs to describe the pontificate of Pope Benedict in a negative way, and does so with a surprising crudeness.” Fr Lombardi SJ adds, “This is not the way to do a good service even to Pope Francis, who knows very well what the Church owes to his predecessor.”